Matthew Will

Hello,
I went to see the Matrix Reloaded, unfortunately, and was amazed to see how the theater was wired. Just on one side of the theater were about 20 speakers lining the wall. Here is the question:

Do theaters have advanced audio systems that would be comparable to us having a 30.5 audio system or are they just wiring several of the speakers on the wall to one channel?

I'm just wondering how much farther ahead in technology theaters are using for audio systems. Do theaters even have subwoofers or do the monitor speakers handle that too? Matt

P.S. - Oh and I posted this here because I felt that the people here might know a little more since all of the technology would be in the theaters "receivers" if they were to use such a thing. Lol

Michael Reuben

Theaters use 5.1 sound. The only exceptions are:

1. DD EX, where an additional channel is matrixed into the rears; and

2. SDDS-8, which has two additional channels at the front (usually behind the screen).

M.

"Most people never have to face the fact that, at the right time and the right place, they're capable of anything." -- Chinatown

"What kind of movies would there be if everyone in them had to do what we thought they should do?" -- Roger Ebert

HTF Beginner's Primer and FAQ

Garrett Lundy

Watertown NY Regal cinema's surround sound: Fat stoner going "Whoa!" and "Holy Crap!" Everytime something happens, seriously, The whole multiplex is stereo, except for one theater that is pro-logic.

Phil_DC

There are also some who use the DTS 10.2 systems as seen here http://www.dtsonline.com/cinema/prod...?ID=1929230003

Michael Reuben

That's a new DTS product; I don't know of any commercial theaters that have installed it yet. And although it boasts "up to 10 channels of scalable digital surround sound", that's a theoretical capability, not an indication that any such soundtracks are out there.

M.

"Most people never have to face the fact that, at the right time and the right place, they're capable of anything." -- Chinatown

"What kind of movies would there be if everyone in them had to do what we thought they should do?" -- Roger Ebert

HTF Beginner's Primer and FAQ

Cameron Wright

its not 30.1 its just that the place is so big the right surround is 10 speakers instead of one... that kinda thing

Buy the best, Cry once

Matthew Will

Wow...10 channels. I wish they had a diagram of where you place the speakers. Perhaps some of them would be above and below the listener. Sound technicians could have a field day with that kind of technology to make our movie experience one to remember.

What about subwoofers? Is the bass covered in all of the monitors? At the theater I was at the speakers on the walls were as big as my stereo speakers which have a 15" sub in each. Does the theater have any stand alone subs then? Matt

Dan Hitchman

Basically, I can tell you that many home theaters with separates have FAR more sophisticated gear than the commercial movie theaters at much lower prices.

The amps are usually el cheapo pro grade types, but wired in parallel for each channel so they can use multiple speakers with ultra high sensitivity ratings (for an easy load) powered by the least amount of amps possible (cost cutting measure).

The standard commercial grade SDDS, DTS, and Dolby Digital decoders (I can't speak for the newest products being offered) are not what I'd call the greatest quality either, but theaters pay a lot for what they're getting. The front main speakers and subwoofers look like something you'd make in your garage: just big, ugly black MDF boxes with large horn tweeters and your run of the mill 15 to 18 inch woofers. The speaker wire used is not that great either (fairly thin stuff, maybe 14 gauge).

Disappointing to say the least. Perhaps the top tier theaters in L.A. and New York are a different story...

Dan

Phil_DC

Dan,

For crap some of those theaters sound pretty damn good, the best I have heard was at a Imax theater when they showed Starwars Episode II on their giant Imax screen.
The sound was nothing short of phenomenal not to mention seeing Yoda at a towering 12ft tall on screen!

Dan Hitchman

I wasn't talking about IMAX theaters. They tend to use better equipment (usually quite different) than most theater chains do. They are the exception, not the rule.

Dan